Som Mital, president of India’s National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) will join the opening plenary panel discussion at this year’s International Outsourcing Summit. As president of Nasscom, Mr. Mital is responsible for representing the Indian IT-BPO software and services industry in India and the world. This year, IT-BPO export revenues from India are expected to exceed US$100 billion.

Mr. Mital’s key responsibility areas include enhancing India’s leadership position in the global offshore IT-BPO market. He has a rich and wide ranging work experience of over 30 years in corporate India, and he has been a part of the Indian IT industry for 20 years. Before joining NASSCOM, he headed the Services business for Hewlett Packard in Asia Pacific and Japan. He has also served as chairman of NASSCOM during the period 2003-04.

Mr. Mital is a member of a body constituted under the Chairpersonship of India’s Prime Minister whose mandate is to implement a National E-Governance Plan (NeGP). He is also a member of National Integration Council chaired by the Prime Minister. He previously served on the Chief Ministers IT Task Force in Karnataka. Mr. Mital is a member of the Governing Board of several educational institutions including IIIT in Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad.

The opening IOS 2012 planel discussion features Mr. Mital and other heads of national IT-BPO associations. With a U.S. presidential election coming up in a matter of weeks following IOS 2012, the theme is particularly relevant. “Threats and challenges: Should protectionism be a genuine concern for the global service delivery business?” Political rhetoric leading up to the elections suggest that some leading U.S. politicians believe that should be the case.

Mr. Mital’s perspective will carry much weight, given the role of India in the development of the global IT-BPO industry, and his job to further enhance India’s position and influence on the industry.